HC Deb 05 March 1917 vol 91 cc48-9W
Sir J. AGG-GARDNER

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether he can grant the application which has been made for the release of Trooper Fletcher, of the Royal Gloucestershire Hussar Yeomanry, to enable him to return to his farm of 300 acres, which, without his supervision, must pass out of cultivation and the stock have to be abandoned?

Mr. MACPHERSON

This man is a category A man. Careful inquiries have been made and there does not seem to be any reason for apprehending that the farm will go out of cultivation. It is not intended therefore to release him.

Mr. LOUGH

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War, whether his attention has been drawn to the case of a farmer of forty years of age, who is the sole male worker on a farm of 40 acres with a large stock and substantial amount of tillage, who has been called up for military service, with the result of being obliged to dispose of his stock and allow his land to go out of cultivation; if so, whether this farmer will be exempted; and if he can undertake that no further male labour shall be called up from farms which will involve the land becoming derelict?

Mr. MACPHERSON

If my right. hon. Friend will furnish particulars inquiries will be made. It is open to tribunals to exempt any man, whose calling up would inevitably involve food-producing land becoming derelict.

Mr. LOUGH

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether his attention has been called to the fact that numbers of sheep with lamb have been obliged to be killed because the shepherds have been called up for military service; and whether, in view of the national food crisis, he can undertake that no further shepherds will be called to the Colours?

Mr. MACPHERSON

I would refer my right hon. Friend to the statement which my Noble Friend the Secretary of State made on this subject generally in another place on the 28th February. My Noble Friend is aware of the necessities of farm labour, and the instructions now in force with regard to the calling up of men employed on farms have received the concurrence of the Board of Agriculture.